Artificial limb



May 20, 1941.;

c. F. GL ACK ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed June 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y k c.F. CLACK I 2,242,848

ARTIFICIAL 'LIMB Filed June 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Char/es F C/ac/rPatented May 20, 1941 STTES PATENT QFFICE ARTIFICIAL LIMB ApplicationJune 19, 1937, Serial No. 149,227

15 Claims.

The invention relates generally to artificial limbs, or moreparticularly to artificial members of the so called hip-controlled typein which the limbs are wholly supported and controlled from the hips,and primarily seeks to provide a novel form of supporting andcontrolling means capable of very eificiently controlling the walkingfunctions and of being worn with a greater sense of comfort and securitythan has heretofore been joyed.

Limbs of the type stated now in general use employ pelvic belts whichencircle the body in the pelvic region, usually below the iliac crestsand above the great trochanter, together with means for securing thebelt to the thigh section of the limb and for connecting the belt withcontrol devices within the limb. In order to obtain the desired feelingof security and confidence of control, limb users draw their belts verytightly about the pelvic region. Some wearers experience discomfort andeven injury in forcing themselves to wear belting which traverse theabdominal region, and even those who can normally wear such beltswithout discomfort find it injurious to wear belts drawn too tightly.Moreover, in the at present known belts, if the belting is drawn tightlyenough to satisfy standing and walking conditions, it will sometimes befound too tight in the sitting posture, and vice versa. The remedying ofthis condition constitutes one of the principal objects of my presentinvention.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a limb supporting andcontrolling belt devoid of any abdomen traversing portion and in whichprovision is made for self-adjusting the supporting equipment toallconditions of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means foryieldably attaching the belt to the limb.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of limbsupporting and controlling belt in which is included means for yieldablygripping the person of a wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means foradjusting the relation of the belt parts upon the person of a wearer.

Another object of the invention is to form the belt of a plurality ofyieldably connected, partially rigid sections terminating at each sideshort of the abdominal region of a wearer, and to provide a novelencasement for said sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting beltincluding anterior and posterior sections yieldably urged toward oneanother to yieldably grip the p rson of a wearer, and a control strapconnected to the belt sections and to limb shank controlling devices insuch a manner as to control the walking function during walking, and torelax the yieldable grip of the anterior belt section on the person ofthe wearer while maintaining the posterior section in back supportingrelation during sitting.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by followingthe description, the appended claims, and the several views illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FigLu'e l is a front elevation illustrating the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation illustrating the invention, partsbeing in section.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the belt proper unsheathed.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of a form of sheath for the beltproper, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View of the belt side opposite the sideof amputation.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a modified form of beltextension joint employing a ratchet lock.

Figure '7 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of the belt.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 8-8 on Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 9-9 on Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view showing a modified form of beltembodying modified elastic and pivot structures.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken on the linel|-ll on Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a vertical cross section of the rubber pivot mountingblock.

Figure 13 is a horizontal section of the rubber pivot mounting block.

Figure 14 is a detail vertical section taken on the line l-id on Figure2.

Figure 15 is a detail plan view of a modified form of the invention inwhich the anterior and posterior belt sections are separately sheathedand provided with a bridge portion.

Figure 16 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation showing the positionassumed by the parts durin a sitting posture.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like partsin all of the figures,

I have shown the invention applied to an artificial limb embodying theusual thigh section 5, shank section 6 and foot section 1, the sectionsand. 6 being articulated or pivotally connected by any acceptable formof knee joint 8. The knee equipment includes the usual check 9 and shankcontrol crank Hi.

My improved limb supporting and controlling belt is generally designatedH and preferably is composed of three sections of spring steel,duraluminum or other suitable material shaped to engage at the sides andback only of the pelvic region of a wearer, thereby being devoid of anyportion traversing or pressing the central abdominal region. The threesections are designated I2, I3 and I4, the first two being hereinaftertermed anterior and posterior sections, and the latter the side sectionor side engaging portion. The sections [2 and I3 are shaped and intendedto yieldably grip between them the hip portion of a wearer at the sideof amputation and are disposed in end to end relation with the endsspaced for a purpose that will soon be explained. The posterior section[3 is extended across the back and is telescopically overlapped by theside section I4 which is shaped to fit against the good side of thewearer, or the side opposite the side of amputation.

The belt is applied to the pelvic region below the iliac crests andabove the great trochanter, and the relation of the belt sections isdiagrammatically shown in Figure 7.

Secured to each of the opposed ends of the sections 12 and I3, byrivets, welding, sleeve screws or any other suitable securing devicesI5, is a link member I6. These spaced links depend from the beltapproximately to the level of the femur pivot or natural hip axis, andthey are shaped to converge and also toextend a bit laterally of thevertical plane in which they are mounted. At their lower ends the linksare connected, by spaced pivots l1, to a mounting'block I8 which is inturn yieldably secured to the thigh section 5 0i the limb to besupported and controlled.

The block I8 is removably receivable in a metal socket or cup l9 fittedinto a recess in the outer face of the thigh section 5. A bore passesthrough the recessed wall of the thigh section, and is bushed as at 2B,and this bore communicates with an inside face recess in the thighsection which is fitted with another. reinforcing metal cup or socketmember 2|. A rubber cushion block 22 is mounted in the cup l9 beneaththe block I8, and a rubber cushion block 23 is mounted in the cup 2|beneath the flat head 24 of a securing bolt 25 which projects throughthe bushed bore, the cushion blocks, and the block l8. The parts aresecurely, but yieldably clamped together by a fiat nut 26 which isnotched at its periphery to receive the lock dog 27 screw secured uponthe block l8. This rubber block mounting of the metal parts permits adegree of flexibility or yield sufiicient to prevent crystallization andbreakage of parts. The rubber blocks preferably are thickest at theircentral portions and are feathered slightly toward their edges. See'Figperson of a wearer therebetween as shown in Figures 2 and 7.

In order better to fit the belt to a wearer, and to provide for lateralor side to side gripping of the person of the wearer, as well as theanteriorposterior gripping previously referred to, the side section Idof the belt is mounted telescopically upon the back portion of theposterior section l3. This may be accomplished by reducing the size ofthe side section end as at 30 and slidably projecting it throughreceiving cleats or straps 3| mounted on the overlapped posteriorsection end. An elastic strap 52 may be secured as at 33 to the backportion of the posterior section and removably and adjustably connectedto the side section as at 34. With this equipment the sections I3 and I4will be constantly urged in side to side body gripping relation and thesection M can be wholly removed with great facility. In Figure '7 of thedrawings the anterior-posterior gripping of the person of a wearer ofthe belt is indicated by the arrows AP, and the side to side gripping bythe arrows SS.

A buttock engaging pad 35 depends from the belt at the side ofamputation and preferably is yieldably and removab-ly secured to theposterior belt section l3 as indicated at 36. See Figures 2 and 14. Thispad materially adds to the sense of comfort and security enjoyed bywearers of my improved belt.

The anterior belt section I2 is provided with a button 31 or othersuitable anchoring medium, and a similar medium 38 is aflixed to theposterior section. A control strap 39 including an elastic section isincluded as a part of my improved supporting and controlling equipmentand has its bight disposed beneath the control crank l0 and its freeends respectively connected to the anchoring media 31 and 38 so that themovement of the shank section 6 of the limb can be suitably controlledfrom the hips of the wearer.

When a person assumes a setting posture, the muscles about the pelvicregion relax and the buttocks and other fleshy parts about the midsection spread in a manner rendering a tight belt or similar restrictionquite uncomfortable, if not injurious. In my improved supporting beltthe yieldably connected sections readily spread to accommodate this formof body expansion and all discomfort is avoided. Moreover, when the bodyparts spread during the assuming of the sitting posture the length ofthe control strap 39, adjusted for walking control, is caused by thebody spread to exert a pull at its anchorage to the anterior beltsection I 2, serving to pull this section bodily forward in a mannerdefinitely freeing pressure against the person of the wearer at thispoint. See Figures 7 and 16. This pulling (forward of the belt sectionl2 also acts through the yieldable connection 29 to yieldably pull theposterior section I3 and the pad 35 carried thereby against the buttockand back portion of the wearer in a manner for very effectively bracingthe wearer at the back during sitting intervals.

The belt sections may be sheathed in any approved manner to protect awearer from direct contact. A conventional way of covering belt portionsis by use of padded leather coverings laced or otherwise secured inplace. I prefer to sheath my belt sections with individual sheaths, onefor each of the three individual sections. These sheaths preferably areformed of thin tubular rubber portions 40 having a thickened bodyopposing or inner portion 4! of sponge rubber molded thereon as shown inFigure 4.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a modified means for telescopicallyconnecting the belt sections l3 and M. The reduced edges of the sectionl4 may be provided with ratchet teeth 42 to be engaged by spring dogs 53carried by the back portion of the section !3. The dogs 43 will serve tohold any adjustment of relation of the belt sections I3 and I4, andrelease button equipment 44 may be utilized to release the lockedrelation and permit adjustment or separation of the parts.

Instead of rubber bands 29 or spring devices for yieldably urging thebelt sections !2 and it together I may employ an elastic strap t5 andattach one end thereof to the posterior anchoring button 38 and theother end, adjustab-ly, to the anterior button 31, so that theintermediate portion will bridge the space between the opposed ends ofthe belt section. See Figure 10. In this same view I have shown anothermodification of the invention in which both depending links I6 arepivoted to the block 58 at a single point 46 instead of providingindividual, spaced pivots as hereinbefore described.

If found desirable, one of the belt sections I2 or l3 may be extendedacross the space between the section ends, as indicated at 4'! in Figure15, and permitted to telescope into the sheathing of the companionsection. This equipment will efiectually overcome any tendency of theperson of a wearer to project and be pinched between the opposed ends ofthe sections.

Obviously other modifications of the structural details of my improvedequipment may be made without departing from the scope of the inventionas pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An artificial limb supporting belt including anterior and posteriorindependently movable sections and shaped of semi-rigid material toprovide portions adapted to engage at the back and sides of a wearer andterminating short of continuity across the front so as to be devoid ofany abdomen traversing portion, means urging said sections toward eachother for yieldably gripping the person of a wearer, and means dependingfrom the belt for supporting an artificial limb.

2. An artificial limb supporting belt including independently movable,rigid, form-retaining anterior and posterior sections, a buttock padfixedly connected to and depending from the posterior section, meansurging said sections toward each other for yieldably gripping the personof a wearer, and means depending from the belt for supporting anartificial limb.

3. In an artificial limb, a thigh section, a shank section, meansarticulating the limb sections and including a shank section movementcontrolling crank, a supporting belt including independently movable,rigid, form-retaining anterior and posterior sections, means forpivotally connecting the belt sections to the thigh section, meansconnecting the anterior and posterior sections together and urging themtoward each other for yieldably gripping the person of a wearer, and acontrol strap looped beneath the crank and having its free endsconnected respectively to the anterior and posterior sections.

4. In an artificial limb, a thigh section, a shank section, meansarticulating the limb sections and including a shank section movementcontrolling crank, a supporting belt including independently movable,rigid, form-retaining anterior and posterior sections, means forpivotally connecting the belt sections to the thigh section, meansconnecting the anterior and posterior sections together and urging themtoward each other for yieldably gripping the person of a wearer, saidbelt also including a side engaging portion extensibly connected to saidposterior sections, means for controlling the degree of extension ofsaid portion, and a control strap looped beneath the crank and havingits free ends connected respectively to the anterior and posteriorsections.

5. In an artificial limb, a thigh section, a shank section, meansarticulating the limb sections and including a shank section movementcontrolling crank, a supporting belt including independently movable,rigid, form-retaining anterior and posterior sections, means forpivotally connecting the belt sections to the thigh section, meansconnecting the anterior and posterior sections together and urging themtoward each other for yieldably gripping the person of a wearer, saidbelt also including a side engaging portion extensibly connected to saidposterior section, means for yieldably resisting extension movementbetween said portion and the posterior section, and a control straplooped beneath the crank and having its free ends connected respectivelyto the anterior and posterior sections.

6. In an artificial limb, a thigh section, a shank section, meansarticulating the limb sections and including a shank section movementcontrolling crank, a supporting belt including anterior and posteriorsections, means for pivotally connecting the belt sections to the thighsection, means for urging the belt sections toward each other foryieldably gripping the person of a wearer, said belt also including aside engaging portion extensibly connected to said posterior section,said portion and said anterior section terminating in spaced relation sothat the belt is devoid of any abdomen traversing portion, and a controlstrap looped beneath the crank and having its free ends connectedrespectively to the anterior and posterior sections.

7. In an artificial limb, articulated thigh and shank sections, asupporting belt including anterior and. posterior sections presentingends opposed in spaced relation, links depending from said ends andpivotally connected to said thigh section, and means interposed betweensaid ends to yieldably draw them together and cause said sections togrip the person of a wearer.

8. In an artificial limb, articulated thigh and shank sections, asupporting belt including anterior and posterior sections presentingends opposed in spaced relation, links depending from said ends andpivotally connected to said thigh section, and means interposed betweensaid ends to yieldably draw them together and cause said sections togrip the person of a wearer, said belt also including a side engagingportion extensibly connected to said posterior section, and means forcontrolling the degree of extension of said portion.

9. In an artificial limb, a shank section, a thigh section, meansarticulating the limb sections and including a shank section movementcontrolling crank, a supporting belt including anterior and posteriorsections presenting ends opposed in spaced relation, links dependingfrom said ends and pivotally connected to said thigh section, meansinterposed between said ends to yieldably draw them together and causesaid sections' to grip the person of a wearer, and a control straplooped beneath the crank and having its free ends connected respectivelyto the anterior and posterior sections.

10. In an artificial limb articulated thigh and shank sections, asupporting belt including anterior and posterior sections presentingends opposed in spaced relation, links depending from said ends andpivotally connected to said thigh section, means interposed between saidends to yieldably draw them together and cause said sections to grip theperson of a wearer, and means bridging the space between said opposedends to prevent protrusion of the person of a wearer between said ends.11. In an artificial limb, articulated thigh and shank sections, asupporting belt including an- .terior and posterior sections presentingends opposed in spaced relation, links depending from said ends andpivotally connected to said thigh section, means interposed between saidends to yieldably draw them together and cause said sections to grip theperson of a wearer, individual sheathing for said sections, and anextension from one said section telescopically engaging the sheathing ofthe other section and serving to bridge the space between the opposedsection ends and prevent protrusion of the person of a wearer betweensaid ends.

12. In an artificial limb, articulated thigh and shank sections, asupporting belt including anterior and posterior sections presentingends opposed in spaced relation, links depending from said ends andpivotally connected to said thigh section, said pivotal connectionincluding a resilient material inlay permitting a degree of free lateralmovement tending to prevent crystallization of the pivoted parts, andmeans interposed between said ends to yieldably draw them together andcause said sections to grip the person of a wearer.

13. In an artificial limb, articulated thigh and shank sections, asupporting belt including anterior and posterior sections presentingends opposed in spaced relation, a pivot member secured to andprojecting upwardly from said thigh section, links depending from saidends and individually-pivotally connected in spaced relation to saidpivot member, and means interposed between said ends to yieldably drawthem together and cause said sections to grip the person of a wearer.

14. In an artificial limb, articulated thigh and shank sections, saidshank section including a control crank, a supporting belt includinganterior and posterior sections, means for pivotally connecting the beltsections to the thigh section, means for urging the belt sections towardeach other for yieldably gripping the person of a wearer, and a controlstrap having a bight engaging said crank and its free ends respectivelyconnected to said anterior and posterior sections and eiiective during asitting posture to move the anterior section to relieve body pressureand to yieldably hold the posterior section in back bracing relation.

15. In an artificial limb, a thigh section presenting inner and outerfaces, a supporting belt including a depending arm, a pivot block towhich said arm is pivotally connected, said thigh section havingregistering recesses in its inner and outer faces, a resilient blockmounted in each recess, said thigh section said pivot block and sadresilient blocks having an aperture therethrough, and an anchoring boltpassing through said aperture and having a head lying in the innerrecess and serving to yieldably secure the pivot block in the otherrecess.

CHARLES FRANKLIN CLACK.

